I will be prompt in meeting the duties and responsibilities, in the truth of the risen Christ

by Fr Robert Presutti, LC | Source: Catholic.net

John 20:1-9

Introductory
Prayer: Lord, you are the source of all life because you are life itself. Your
resurrection gives me the hope of being raised from the dead to rejoice with you forever in heaven.
Thank you for your presence in my life. I love you, and I want to follow after you with all my heart.
Be with me now, and inspire my prayer.

Petition: Lord Jesus, grant me the
joy of seeing my hopes constantly kindled by your power over sin and death. May the strength of your
resurrection overcome the weaknesses of my human nature.1. Confusing Signs:
Without faith, realities that should inspire hope and expectation only cause confusion.
Jesus empty tomb is the sign of the most complete victory, the most extreme love, and the most
powerful presence. Mary Magdalene, Peter and John all see the empty tomb. But their limited faith
needs time to grow and completely accept the great gift that is offered to them. In approaching the
mystery of God, I must stoke up my faith. Otherwise, what should cause hope and courage will only
windup becoming a stumbling block for me. Only a sincere and generous faith in Christ enables me to
take the circumstances of life in hope, confidence and security.

2. Running to the
Experience of Faith: Running is an integral part of this Gospel. Mary Magdalene runs. Peter
runs, and John outruns Peter. Love for the Lord creates a sense of urgency. What they saw at the
tomb could have been seen without running at all. But promptness is a sign of love for the Lord. If
I wish to experience Christ and the power of his resurrection, I need to have a sense of urgency in
my relationship with the Lord. I must strive to meet him and give myself to him in my here and now.
I can't wait for the ideal moment. If I don't give myself to Christ now, under the present
conditions, there is no reason to think I ever will.

3. Faith Begins with the Experience
of the Senses, but Does Not End There: John, Peter andMary Magdalene will eventually have an
unshakeable conviction in the Resurrection, and become messengers of the Resurrection. But they
first need to see the empty tomb and pick up the wrappings. They would also need to see and touch
the risen Christ. All this would cause wonderment, reflection, and eventually a growing realisation
that would induce faith. God works in the same way in my life. First there are the lived experiences
of my life: people I meet, circumstances I face, events that occur… Then my wonderment and
reflection on what it all means. Then the slow dawning of faith. "It is clearly evident that
Christ's resurrection is the greatest Event in the history of salvation, and indeed, we can say in
the history of humanity, since it gives definitive meaning to the world. The whole world revolves
around the Cross, but only in the resurrection does the Cross reach its full significance of
salvific Event. The Cross and Resurrection constitute the one paschal mystery in which the history
of the world is centered. Therefore Easter is the Church's greatest Solemnity. Every year she
celebrates and renews this Event, fraught with all the prophecies of the Old Testament, beginning
with the "Proto evangelium" of the Redemption, and of all the eschatological hopes and expectations
projected towards the "fullness of time", which was realised when the Kingdom of God definitively
entered human history and the universal order of salvation” (John Paul II, General Audience,
March 1, 1989).Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you know how to
prepare your disciples to experience your presence deeply and know you intimately. I ask
today for a deepening in my faith in your resurrection. Let all the events of my life point me
to the truth that you are alive.

Resolution: I will be prompt in meeting
the duties and responsibilities of today, in the truth of the risen Christ.

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